News from Labour Matters

Conservative policy unclear after top Tory backs Labour’s NHS guarantee

Conservatives’ health policy is unclear today after Labour’s plan to guarantee that those diagnosed with cancer will be able to see a specialist within two weeks received the unexpected backing of a leading Tory spokesperson. The uncertainty comes as a result of an interview with Sky News by Tory frontbencher Philip Hammond, in which he claimed that his party has “no problems with these proposals”.

Really, Mr Hammond? The Tories supporting our cancer guarantees would be a complete u-turn on their policy to oppose legal rights for patients, and a massive humiliation for Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley who has always railed against our cancer entitlements.

The exchange between Philip Hammond and Sky News’ Adam Boulton went like this:

PH: I think people will see straight through this presentation. This is a government that’s been in office for 12 years, it’s glossing over its many failures and setting out a whole series of things that it says it will do in the future.

AB: If they are saying of you are diagnosed with cancer you can see a specialist within two weeks, generally if you’re recommended to a specialist you see them within 18 weeks, I mean is that a guarantee that you can match?

PH: Yes we have no problems with these proposals…

LB: Well why are you tearing them up then?

PH: It’s a concern we have…the thing we’re sceptical about is Labour’s ability to deliver them. Unless they are prepared to do the radical reforms that will allow these promises to be delivered on then we’ll see the same thing we’ve seen over the last 12 years.

Could it be that Philip Hammond has realised Conservative policy is deeply unpopular and he wasn’t prepared to defend it, or was it just a gaffe? Mr Cameron, it’s over to you…

UPDATE: The Conservatives have told the Evening Standard’s Paul Waugh that continue to oppose Labour’s cancer treatment guarantee. Read his interpretation of this developing story here.

Other news from Labour Matters

• Southampton Labour release alternative 'Budget for Fairness' - 6 February 2012
• "Bleak unemployment figures are bad news" says John Denham - 12 October 2011
• Westminster Council to cut Taxicard budget by £500,000 a year - 11 August 2011